Africa-Press – Uganda. A groundswell of political discontent is shaking up Kamuganguzi Sub-county in Kabale District, where residents have vowed to end the 20-year reign of David Bahati, the current Ndorwa West MP and Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
The call for change came during a charged rally in support of Eliab Naturinda Mporera, a rising political contender who is now viewed as the face of a constituency-wide revolt against what locals described as “transactional leadership.”
“We are tired of leaders who only remember us during election time,” said William Muyambi, a former personal treasurer to Minister Bahati in Kamuganguzi.
Muyambi’s public defection to Eliab’s camp was widely seen as a symbolic break with the old guard, further energizing the rallying crowd.
Speaker after speaker decried years of underdevelopment in key sectors such as health, roads, and education.
Residents voiced frustration over a familiar cycle in which politicians disappear for years, only to return with envelopes of cash and lofty promises during election season.
“It’s time to end transactional politics in our constituency,” one elder declared, as murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
Locals invoked proverbs to sharpen their message. “If a pot stays too long on the fire, it burns the food,” one resident said, likening Bahati’s prolonged stay in office to overstaying one’s welcome to the community’s detriment.
Young voters also added their voices to the demand for change.
Hillary Twasiima, an aspiring National Youth Chairperson in the NRM Youth League, said: “Even someone digging in a soft place eventually says, I’ve had enough.”
His comments struck a chord with fellow youth leaders disillusioned by what they view as a lack of tangible outcomes from Bahati’s tenure.
The criticism extended to the perceived insult of vote-buying. Residents questioned the logic of trading their votes for as little as Shs 5,000 while schools remain ill-equipped and health facilities deteriorate.
In his address, Eliab Naturinda Mporera committed to prioritising education, rural infrastructure, and economic empowerment through stronger support for SACCOs.
He also pledged inclusive leadership that puts people above politics.
“I am not here with money. I am here with a mission to develop our community,” he said. “We’ve had enough of leaders who campaign with cash and disappear with our dreams.”
With the 2026 general elections still over a year away, the political temperature in Ndorwa West is already rising.
But if the sentiment in Kamuganguzi is any indication, Minister Bahati faces the toughest challenge of his political career. The people, it seems, are ready to turn the page.
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